The Bill and Doug Show: Ohio State Football Talk

Episode: Ohio State’s super team season, the real run game issues, and changing the Big Ten schedule: Q&A

Date: October 16, 2025
Hosts: Doug Lesmerises and Bill Landis
Podcast Network: Blue Wire

Episode Overview

This episode of The Bill and Doug Show focuses on a wide-ranging Q&A featuring pressing topics from Ohio State football fans. Lesmerises and Landis dig into Ohio State’s sluggish run game, debate whether the 2025 Buckeyes qualify as a "super team," evaluate the evolving significance of the Big Ten Championship in the 12-team playoff era, and debate future Big Ten scheduling philosophies. The episode is rich with granular football analysis, spirited hypotheticals, and unique insights tempered by the hosts’ deep experience covering Ohio State.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ohio State’s Run Game Struggles & Solutions

[00:34–11:53]

• Current Perception:
  Bill Landis opens the episode by addressing fan frustration with Ohio State’s run game—particularly following a dismal performance against Illinois. He notes, “it was one of the worst rushing performances of the Ryan Day era just by like a yards per carry perspective.” [00:34]

• Three Major Issues Identified:

  1. Overreliance on Tight Ends:
     • Ohio State uses too much 12/13/14 personnel despite tight ends who are average run blockers besides Will CAS Merrick.
     • “I don’t think this tight end group is as good as their playing time would suggest... They could do themselves a lot of favors by running more out of 11 personnel, spreading the field.” [01:23]
  2. Running Back Ineffectiveness:
     • OSU’s running backs have the lowest missed tackle forced rate in the Ryan Day era against Power 5 competition (7%).
     • “There’s a little too much of getting what’s blocked for, and you would expect to get more of that.” [02:10]
  3. Lack of Offensive Identity in the Run Game:
     • Day and staff have yet to settle on a “bread and butter” running play, oscillating between counter and inside zone concepts.
     • “I don’t even know if I have a great answer for that honestly…” [03:40]

• How Fixable Are the Issues?

  • Landis is cautiously optimistic, pointing to a healthier Bo Jackson, working in Isaiah West, and potential schematic tweaks.
    • “Find the right mix at running back that works, I think could do a lot.” [04:34]
  • The run game isn’t catastrophic yet but must improve before bad-weather games or postseason. Current run game metrics (success rate, efficiency) are among the worst of the Day era.

• Hosts on Play-Calling Philosophy:

  • They speculate some run-heavy stretches are about “working out the kinks” while the pass game (with elite receivers) is intentionally being saved or sidelined against lesser competition.
    • “We are trying to figure out this run game so we can be balanced and effective... if that means we look a little clunky against Illinois or Wisconsin or Purdue or UCLA or Rutgers, so be it.” [07:16]

• On Quick Fixes:

  • Rather than teach non-blocking tight ends to block better, “you’re just going to ask them to do it less and you’re going to play three receivers and run it out of that.” [09:44]

Notable Quote:

“The run rushing attack is not good. Like, it’s not Ohio State standard at the moment. And like, can it get there? Should they get it there? I think is the question.” – Bill Landis [11:38]

2. Q&A Segment 1: Is 2025 the Ohio State Super Team?

[15:26–26:50]

• Fan Question:
  With so much top-end talent potentially leaving after this year, is 2025 actually Ohio State’s “super team” season, not 2026?

• Talent Continuity vs Unique Opportunity:

  • Lesmerises notes the ease with which OSU reloads via recruiting, development, and the portal, making “super team” definitions elusive.
    • “New guys just sort of step up... Ohio State doesn’t have windows, but there are moments in time where the opportunity feels a little more ripe, perhaps to go after a national championship.” [15:26]
  • The hosts agree that the dynamic duo of Jeremiah Smith (offense) and Caleb Downs (defense), together with the rise of talents like Carnell Tate and Arvell Reese, create rarified synergy.

• Historic Comparison:

  • They compare this five-star cluster (QB Julian Saying, Smith, Tate, Downs, Reese) to past legendary OSU fivesomes (2019 Fields/Dobbins/Young/Olave/Okudah, 2014 with Zeke, etc.) [25:58]
  • “The way [these five] are playing right now, that’s hard to beat.” [25:58]

• On Arvell Reese’s Emergence:

  • Reese is a “game changer” whose surprise leap to near-top draft prospect cements this year as potentially legendary.

Notable Quotes:

“It’s a Super 4, maybe a Super 5, if you’re okay with putting [Julian] Saying in there. The way he’s handled his business... are these—Is this the best fivesome in Ohio State history? It’s like, okay, now we’re talking something.” – Doug Lesmerises [25:23]

3. Ryan Day’s Evolution & Ohio State’s Place in Modern CFB

[26:50–33:43]

• Dramatic Turnaround Since Michigan Loss:

  • Fans had lost faith in Day after the Michigan loss, but he’s since helped lead an unprecedented program turnaround.
    • “If it is—the greatest six week shift in modern sports history. If you really want to dig into it. I can’t think of one more drastic...” – Doug [28:43]
  • Comparison between Day and James Franklin (Penn State): both successful but doubted for big-game shortcomings. Day, however, answered critics with a national title and “cracked the code” for the new playoff era.

• Day as Potential Best Coach in CFB:

  • The best coach spot is seen as “vacant,” but Landis argues, “if you’re just doing a list, someone’s got to be number one. And it might be Ryan Day.” [31:54]
  • Day’s playoff management, emphasis on keeping his team fresh, and tactical acumen set him apart.

Notable Quotes:

“Ryan Day is like the mastermind of that blueprint... there was nobody last November who thought that Ryan Day was the best coach in college football. And two months later, people were having the conversation.” – Bill Landis [33:43]

4. Ohio State’s Team Vibes Compared to Previous Years

[33:43–37:54]

• Player and Coach Energy:

  • Players and coaches seem more intent, focused, and convex in their conviction.
    • “There’s energy with... this group appears to have. If there was any, like, we’re the top dog... I would have been surprised by that... but I have like, gotten like, not a whiff of any of that.” – Bill Landis [34:02]
  • The team has a core of driven new players, as opposed to “too much experience” which sometimes hinders repeat champs. This, Doug argues, avoids complacency while retaining championship know-how.

• Handling of Fame:

  • Unlike 2015, Ohio State’s current stars (Smith, Downs, Tate, Styles) seem “about their work” and not distracted by celebrity.

5. The (Changing) Importance of the Big Ten Championship

[37:54–44:17]

• Fan Sentiment:

  • With the 12-team playoff, is the Big Ten title losing its luster? Why care about a tiebreaker when a home playoff game could mean more?

• Hosts’ Perspective:

  • Doug argues the Big Ten title still matters in three ways:
    • In the moment (players/coaches lifting the trophy)
    • In historical records for coaches/programs
    • As a consolation in years when the natty is missed but standards (beat Michigan, win B1G) are met

• Conference Title Paradox:

  • Landis raises the comparison to basketball—league championships may “feel” less important under expanded playoffs, but fans and programs will still chase them.

6. Fixing the Big Ten Schedule: Geographic “Chunks” or Tiered Matchups?

[44:17–51:49]

• Scheduling Proposal:

  • Fan suggests scheduling based on geography (midwest, east, pacific) to reduce travel and preserve rivalries.
  • Doug prefers scheduling by team quality once AQs are in place: Let the top five teams play each other more, middle tier teams play more, etc.

• Imbalance is Okay:

  • Both hosts agree that with an 18-team league, it’s “impossible” to keep things even—so best to lean into blockbuster matchups for competitive and TV benefit.

• Potential Complaints & Solutions:

  • Some middling or lower-tier teams may want more shots at playing (and hosting) the best, if only for revenue and recruiting.
  • Landis proposes possible flexibility: half the schedule is fixed; the other half updates yearly based on previous results, akin to the NFL.

7. Football Tactics: Why Scripted First Drives Succeed

[51:49–57:18]

• Fan Question:
  Why do opening drives (the “script”) so often succeed, and can’t defenses just anticipate it?

• Bill’s Breakdown:

  • Not all scripts are successful, especially against top teams.
  • Offenses script their best plays, executing at a higher level, while defenses usually stick to basic coverages early, holding exotic looks in reserve.
    • “It’s harder to script defensively than it would be offensively...” [54:35]
  • Once the offense has shown its hand, defenses can adjust.
  • Also, it’s hard to “perfect” more than 5–10 core plays per week in practice.

• Doug’s Addition:

  • The first script is likeliest to hit because it’s rehearsed, but after that, the defense adjusts and the offense must rely on “second-best” plays or counters.

• Comfort for Fans:

  • Don’t fret over a good foe’s opening drive: “It’s like a separate game... whatever happens, happens. The game has begun.” [54:35]

Notable Quotes

• On the passing game being held back:

  “We're saving it. Yeah. Right. Which is like I think people on one side of your brain, it's like, I get it, I know why they're doing it. And the other side of the brain, it's like, this sucks to watch. Can you please throw the ball a little more?” – Bill Landis [06:50]

• On super teams:

  “Every year like a season ends and you think like, well, this guy, this guy, this guy and this guy are irreplaceable. And then at a place like Ohio State, new guys just sort of step up.” – Bill Landis [15:26]

• On Ryan Day’s evolution:

  “He showed real coaching acumen and expertise in the process of winning when there was so much doubt about that ability previous.” – Blue Wire Host paraphrasing [32:43]

Important Timestamps

• Run Game Struggles Preview: [00:34–04:19]
• Main Run Game Issues: [01:15–11:53]
• Super Team Debate: [15:26–26:17]
• Historical Fivesomes Comparison: [25:58–26:50]
• Ryan Day's Reputation and Coaching Acumen: [26:50–33:43]
• 2025 Vibes vs 2015 Vibes: [33:43–37:54]
• Big Ten Title Value: [37:54–44:17]
• Big Ten Scheduling Philosophy: [44:17–51:49]
• Scripted Drive Football Explanation: [51:49–57:18]

Episode Tone & Language

• Friendly, bantering, self-aware, and candid
• Relies on deep football knowledge but always breaks complex issues down for average fans
• Hosts are frank about open questions, don’t force certainty, and freely admit personal preferences (“I don’t know that I would say...”)
• Occasional lightheartedness and gentle ribbing, especially regarding Ari Wasserman and “absolutes” in sports talk

Final Thoughts

This Q&A episode is a thorough, insightful, and engaging ride through some of the most urgent issues facing Ohio State football fans in 2025: why the run game is sputtering and how to fix it, whether OSU is living through an all-time “super team” era, Ryan Day’s shockingly effective evolution, and how the ever-shifting landscape of college football calls for new ways to understand tradition, scheduling, and rivalry. The hosts combine granular football analysis with broader context—both historical and forward-looking—making this a must-listen (or read!) for Buckeyes fans.